Cool, Not Clunky

Gone are the days when PFDs (once known more descriptively as life jackets or life preservers) looked about as fashionable as combat boots on a tennis court, fit clunkily and sweatily, and had zero appeal for kids. Now, manufacturers are marketing colorful, comfortable, and, from the kid’s point of view at least, lovable products. The Lil’ Legends 70 from Mustang Survival (www.mustangsurvival.com), for example, comes in many kid-friendly colors and offers ventilated-mesh construction, segmented mobility panels, and cooling channels to nix sweatiness. The Lil’ Legends will be available starting next month and will come in infant, child, and teen sizes.